| The Top Ten Things You Should Know Before You Splash Out On A Washer / Washing Machine |
ONE
There may seem to be plenty of choice out there - but that's an illusion.
Most well-known brand names are owned by just a few major companies.
Electrolux own Frigidaire, AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, - and they build John Lewis machines.
The Candy Group own Candy, Hoover and several others.
The Merloni Group (now called Indesit) own Ariston, Creda, Hotpoint, Indesit, and several more.
TWO
Washers do not have Built-In Obsolescence.
They are not designed to break down. But far too many of them are not built to last either!
THREE
The most important quality to consider is RELIABILITY!
Click the links at the end of this article to find out which brands you can trust.
FOUR
Most manufacturers maintain roughly the same build-quality throughout their range.
It's better to buy a base-model from a quality manufacturer
rather than a top of the range model from a mass producer of rubbish.
FIVE
Washers are a lot like men - the best looking ones are not usually the most reliable!
Quality manufacturers tend to put their efforts into making solid, dependable machines.
SIX
Beware of false guarantees!
The latest trick from the poorer manufacturers is the "5 Year Parts Warranty". This is a great big con.
It provides "free" parts - but you can only have them fitted by a company engineer.
And you have to pay for the labor.
This costs a whole lot more than having it done by your local repair guy.
Check for a proper Parts and Labor warranty before you part with your money.
SEVEN
Many of the latest washers are less "family friendly" than ever.
This is because they have plastic drums which are easily punctured by coins and other metal objects -
and if you have children, especially teenagers, you know that they have a habit of dumping washing in
the laundry hamper (at the 53rd time of asking) without checking their pockets. If your new washer
suffers a cracked drum due to a coin etc - the warranty will NOT cover it.
Our advice:
Buy a machine with a metal drum - or put your teenagers into foster care!
EIGHT
Good, cheap washers are rare!
A washer is a highly complex piece of engineering.
Making them properly is far from easy and it doesn't come cheap.
If you are on a tight budget - accept that you can't have everything.
Look for substance rather than glamor.
Learn to live without the fancy features and go for something basic but reliable.
There's no point in having 53 features if none of them work!
NINE
At all costs, avoid "bargain" brands that you have never heard of.
TEN
So Who Makes The Best, Most Reliable Washers?
Click these links to read our independent reviews
Top Ten Washer Brands USA
Top Ten 10 Washing machines UK
There may seem to be plenty of choice out there - but that's an illusion.
Most well-known brand names are owned by just a few major companies.
Electrolux own Frigidaire, AEG, Electrolux, Zanussi, - and they build John Lewis machines.
The Candy Group own Candy, Hoover and several others.
The Merloni Group (now called Indesit) own Ariston, Creda, Hotpoint, Indesit, and several more.
TWO
Washers do not have Built-In Obsolescence.
They are not designed to break down. But far too many of them are not built to last either!
THREE
The most important quality to consider is RELIABILITY!
Click the links at the end of this article to find out which brands you can trust.
FOUR
Most manufacturers maintain roughly the same build-quality throughout their range.
It's better to buy a base-model from a quality manufacturer
rather than a top of the range model from a mass producer of rubbish.
FIVE
Washers are a lot like men - the best looking ones are not usually the most reliable!
Quality manufacturers tend to put their efforts into making solid, dependable machines.
SIX
Beware of false guarantees!
The latest trick from the poorer manufacturers is the "5 Year Parts Warranty". This is a great big con.
It provides "free" parts - but you can only have them fitted by a company engineer.
And you have to pay for the labor.
This costs a whole lot more than having it done by your local repair guy.
Check for a proper Parts and Labor warranty before you part with your money.
SEVEN
Many of the latest washers are less "family friendly" than ever.
This is because they have plastic drums which are easily punctured by coins and other metal objects -
and if you have children, especially teenagers, you know that they have a habit of dumping washing in
the laundry hamper (at the 53rd time of asking) without checking their pockets. If your new washer
suffers a cracked drum due to a coin etc - the warranty will NOT cover it.
Our advice:
Buy a machine with a metal drum - or put your teenagers into foster care!
EIGHT
Good, cheap washers are rare!
A washer is a highly complex piece of engineering.
Making them properly is far from easy and it doesn't come cheap.
If you are on a tight budget - accept that you can't have everything.
Look for substance rather than glamor.
Learn to live without the fancy features and go for something basic but reliable.
There's no point in having 53 features if none of them work!
NINE
At all costs, avoid "bargain" brands that you have never heard of.
TEN
So Who Makes The Best, Most Reliable Washers?
Click these links to read our independent reviews
Top Ten Washer Brands USA
Top Ten 10 Washing machines UK
Washing Machines are a lot like men - the best looking ones are not usually the most reliable!
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